“Had we better ask in the shop? they may know,” said Horace.
But the chemist looked black when Reginald’s name was mentioned, and hoped he should never see him again. He’d got into trouble and loss enough with him as it was—a hypocritical young—
“Look here,” said Horace, “you’re speaking of my brother, and you’d better be careful. He’s no more a hypocrite than you. He’s an honest man, and he’s been acquitted of the charge brought against him.”
“I didn’t know you were his brother,” said the chemist, rather sheepishly, “but for all that I don’t want to see him again, and I don’t expect I shall either. He won’t come near here in a hurry, unless I’m mistaken.”
“The fellow’s right, I’m afraid,” said Harker, as they left the shop. “He’s had enough of this place, from what you tell me. It strikes me the best thing is to go and inquire at the police-station. They may know something there.”
To the police-station accordingly they went, and chanced to light on one no less important than Mr Sniff himself.
“We are interested in Reginald Cruden, who was before the magistrate to-day,” said Harker. “In fact, this is his brother, and I am an old schoolfellow. We hear the charge against him was dismissed, and we should be much obliged if you could tell us where to find him.”
Mr Sniff regarded the two boys with interest, and not without a slight trace of uneasiness. He had never really suspected Reginald, but it had appeared necessary to arrest him on suspicion, not only to satisfy the victims of the Corporation, but on the off chance of his knowing rather more than he seemed to know about the doings of that virtuous association. It had been a relief to Mr Sniff to find his first impressions as to the lad’s innocence confirmed, and to be able to withdraw the charge against him. But the manner in which the magistrate had dismissed the case had roused even his phlegmatic mind to indignation, and had set his conscience troubling him a little as to his own conduct of the affair. This was why he now felt and looked not quite happy in the presence of Reginald’s brother and friend.
“Afraid I can’t tell you,” said he. “He left the court as soon as the case was over, and of course we’ve no more to do with him.”
“He is not back at his old office,” said Horace, “and I don’t know of any other place in Liverpool he would be likely to go to.”